How to Use Airmeet for the ASJA 2024 Conference

Airmeet sounds like it could be Nike’s latest track shoe. In reality, it’s the technology platform for the ASJA 2024 conference that takes place Sept. 24-26, as well as for Client Connections 2024 – A Virtual Event!

If you aren’t familiar with Airmeet, don’t be intimidated. Anyone who’s done a webinar on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet should be comfortable using it.

If you’re still not sure, don’t worry. ASJA is offering multiple opportunities to test the platform in real time before the conference. Keep reading for those dates as well as for tips for what else you can do to prepare.

Meet Airmeet

The Airmeet platform is similar to the technology platform ASJA used for the 2023 virtual conference–but better.

The ASJA 2024 conference center is live on the Airmeet platform now if you want a sneak peak. If you log on before the event begins, you’ll see the conference calendar and full schedule of events broken down by day, session, topic (called a “tag”), content track (books, content marketing writing, and journalism), or speaker. Click on any one of those elements to open session descriptions and read speaker bios.

Once the conference starts, you can also:

• Fill out a profile and connect with other conference goers, and send DMs.
• Congregate in a virtual lobby before or after sessions.
• Attend sessions of your choice.
• Visit a Writers’ Lounge with “tables”–think of them as mini conference rooms–where people can gather informally between sessions to keep the conversation going, find out about ASJA events and benefits, or hang with friends. ASJA will share more information about the Writers’ Lounge before the event.
• Visit virtual ASJA booths to find out about membership, other ASJA events, and member benefits. ASJA booths will be staffed by member volunteers during the conference.

Read more about Airmeet on the Airmeet FAQ page on the ASJA website. If you’re attending the conference, expect to get an invitation to join the Airmeet conference space by or on Monday, Sept. 16.

Registration for the three-day conference runs through Sept. 20. Prices are $299 for members, and $349 for nonmembers. Register here.

Tips for Using Airmeet

Here are five things you can do in advance to be ready for the conference:

1. Do a computer system check. Airmeet is available through your web browser, you don’t need to download a separate app. For the best experience, use Chrome (version 79 or later). To see if your Chrome version or other browser works with Airmeet, go to the Airmeet FAQ page and follow the prompts to run an Airmeet system check. This 2-minute test checks your internet connection, browser, webcam, mic, speaker, and ability to share your screen (should you need to).

2. Create a profile. Once you receive your 2024 conference invite from Airmeet, use the link to log onto the ASJA conference center and choose a password to create an account. After you set up an account, enhance your profile by adding a headshot, description of your writing work, and links to your social media accounts (if you want to).

3. Put conference sessions on your calendar. Go to the event conference center and review the full schedule. Click on the Bookmark tool to identify sessions you want to attend. Bookmarking a session automatically sends the date, time, and other information about it to the email address associated with your Airmeet account. From there, you can upload it to your preferred calendar.

4. Attend an Airmeet training session. ASJA is holding Airmeet training sessions the week before the conference and opening the event space on Monday, Sept. 23, to help people get acquainted with the platform. Training sessions are scheduled for:

• Monday, Sept. 16, 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT – For conference speakers and volunteers.
• Wednesday, Sept. 18, 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT – For conference speakers and volunteers.
• Friday, Sept. 20, 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT – For Client Connections 2024 participants and clients.
• Monday, Sept. 23, 8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT – The conference space opens for all conference attendees, speakers, and volunteers for a day of informal networking prior to the first sessions on Tuesday. The conference space on Airmeet will remain open through the duration of the event, which ends on Friday, Sept. 27, after day two of Client Connections 2024.
• Monday, Sept. 23, 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT – The weekly ASJA Coffee Chat–which usually takes place Tuesdays on Google Meet–is meeting a day early in the conference space on Airmeet to give attendees another opportunity to get acquainted with the virtual surroundings. You must be registered for the conference in order to attend this Coffee Chat.

5. Read the Airmeet FAQs. If you want more information, Airmeet has the following FAQs that could help:

• Attendee FAQs – Get general information about using the service, troubleshooting internet connectivity problems, joining and interacting at the event, reminders, email addresses, frozen screens, and more.
• Social Lounge FAQs – Get basic how-to information for using the Writers’ Lounge virtual tables. The Writers’ Lounge will have multiple tables devoted to pre-determined topics plus a handful of open tables that anyone can grab for an impromptu meet up. The FAQ explains how to create, join, and leave a table, edit the name of a table, and more.
• Airmeet Accessibility – Get information on services Airmeet offers to ensure all users can access conference sessions, including people with visual and hearing impairments, including closed captioning, automatic transcription, screen reader support, and keyboard navigation.

Michelle Rafter is a Portland Oregon, business ghostwriter, ASJA’s publications chair, and part of the 2024-2025 conference planning committee.